Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I'd like to thank Michelle over at The Studio At Crow Haven Farm for presenting me with this awesome award!! Please take a moment to visit Michelle and join the 268 followers she already has :) She makes some of the most amazing and interesting little sculptures!!

As part of accepting the award, I am supposed to name 5 other blogs that I feel are superior scribblers.(Ok, notice the font change up there? That was pretty obvious that I copied and pasted from her blog wasn't it?)

I agree with her, this will be hard because there really are some great scribblers out there that totally make my day when I visit! I would like to pass this award onto:

1) Serena Lewis This woman is not only a fabulous artist, but she's soulful and deep. She always me want to be more than what I am♥

3) Circling my Head I love Renee.....nuff said :)4) A Dancing Mango Darlene is not only sweet, she's super talented too!5) Norah's Sharon is so giving and sharing of her talent, I could read her scribbles and watch her videos all day!

On one last note.........I tried painting a little boy! My grandson will turn 3 in January so I thought I'd plan ahead. I'll matte this and frame it later.It's raining here today which is ok because the farmers will slow down now on bringing in beans and I can catch up and complete my month end procedures. Busy time of the month at work!

2 more days until the studio crawl!! I found a youtube video on it from 2 years ago!

Our little local Alco store had these 12 x 12 x 2 WOODEN pieces priced at $9.99 each. Well, I know they always have 40% off sales on 'home accessories' and this is the week!

So I bought the four they had! $5.99 each!

I'm not sure what I'll do with them just yet, but the surface alone is an awesome find. I wish the birds/nests were tucked more in a lower corner and I could add a woman but they are smack dab in the center it appears.

Any suggestions? Or should I leave them as is.......they are kinda cute!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

If any of you watch HGTV's 'That's Clever' you'll know how fun this will be for me! It's like the show, only live and in person! In fact, several of these artists have actually been on the series!

Area artists let people come into their studios, ask questions and watch them work! How awesome! I think it will be just what I need right now!

My only prayer is that I don't fall in love with a new form of art such as pottery or jewelry making because I do NOT have the funds to jump head first into another hobby right now! LOL

I'd like to also take a moment and thank my wardrobe angel for somehow making me choose a somewhat decent top to wear to work today. Since this is a bean plant, I rarely dress too fancy. But today, I actually look nice and who walks in the door? A photographer! It wasn't PEOPLE magazine but it is a fairly popular publication in the regional edible bean world. LOL He asked me to stand next to our huge logo on the wall. ugh!

I'm all set to paint tonight! Clean area, mowed the lawn last night so there is nothing to stop me!We shall see...I think I've said that before :)

Monday, September 28, 2009

Can anyone help me in making the decision to purchase a laminator? What is best, is it worth it or just easier to take things somewhere and have them laminated for me? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!! ♥

The craft show went 'ok' for me but not exactly what I had hoped. Only 4 items sold but I guess it's better than nothing. I don't think the items I did really fit in at this craft show and perhaps sales are better when the artist is actually present?

I also donated the snowman painting to a charity auction as some of you may recall. I knew it would go on the silent auction and not the live auction as I've become very used to that. There is one artist who does fantastic watercolor painting and he always donates paintings of the university so he's pretty much the only one to get his items on the live auction as they bring in the big bucks.

What I wasn't prepared for was the starting price they put on my painting. $10.00. That was a little deflating. It was a 16 x 20 framed painting. Someone else donated 3 jars of homemade pickles and they also started at $10.00. My painting sold for $50 and the couple who purchased it thanked me and were so excited to get it and that is what matters most. I just don't understand though how these committees can set the starting price so low....they obviously have no clue about the time and love that goes into our paintings. But like my friends said, 'it doesn't matter so much what they started it out at, look at the bids now!' Two years ago, at a different auction, a donation of mine started out at $20 and I felt bad but now that's down right flattering! haha

Anyway, after this weekend I seriously started wondering about my painting abilities. I had several smaller canvases that I totally destroyed yesterday. They haven't sold for almost a year (some were early pieces that I was too embarrassed to even try sell!) and I didn't want to throw them so what I did was cut the canvas off (it was mixed media, loaded with beeswax) and now I have wooden frames. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but I'm kind of leaning towards experimenting with fabric art of some sort. It actually felt good to throw things and get rid of them. I want to start fresh.

Well, it's Monday and I have lots of work on my desk here so I better get busy! Hopefully I can blog hop this afternoon :)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I've been trying to come up with little girl characters. I did 7 little 5 x 7 watercolors this past week and I really enjoyed them. They are now at the craft show going on so if they don't sell, I'll be sure to show you later.

Sorry, this little girl got blurry!

I just love the big shoes!

Ok, here's the part where I brag about my son. Excuse me but I'm so proud!Derek attended a year at a Tech school right after he graduated from high school and he was going to get his degree in Commercial Art. He has such talent and he's such a perfectionist. UNLIKE his mother, LOL! Anyway, I remember the day he called me and said, 'Mom, I like to draw and stuff but I really don't think I want to do it 8 hours a day!' He longed for a job that would take him outside. He quit school and since then has gotten married, had 3 beautiful children and is part owner of Agassiz Drain Tile He's done well, but man oh man, I wish he had the time to draw again. It's more important he's doing what he loves though and that's working outside! He loves it! He's also a volunteer fireman, I couldn't be more proud♥

Here's a sketch he did back in February of 1998. I know there's a name for the technique but I can't recall. It's done with tiny dots and dashes. Isn't it amazing? I just love it!He's the TRUE artist in the family and I just hope someday when he's older he will find the extra time to use his talents to create again :)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I've been invited to put some of my pieces in a craft show this Saturday. I wish I had known about it sooner because I would have tried to whip up some more 'crafty' type things that I know would sell better than my artwork! Like.........snowmen, santas and halloween themed items!

Oh well, for now it is what it is. I'm going to put my Etsy store on vacation mode tomorrow and I'm going to think long and hard about what goes back in there. I'm ready to revamp things :)

I've painted up a few 5 x 7 watercolor pieces to sell (hopefully) this weekend. I'll include the matting and a protective sleeve. I sure hope somebody will like them♥

Here are just a couple.......'Twinkle, Twinkle'A little glitter on the stars

This one is called 'Nothing to fear' Awwwwww, Patches is out walking at night, yet he still smiles and trudges on totally unafraid!

Monday, September 21, 2009

What kind of weird mannequin is this? I made Dale pose with her and quite honestly, I couldn't remember if she even had clothes on! I know they're TRYING to sell the clothes but when I saw the white plastic expression of shock and horror, I didn't see anything else!

Oh, and I was excited to find out I'm featured in two treasuries right now! That feels great!The Cyclingartist chose Sweet Angel Annie to feature. Thank you so much!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

I was awarded this Premio MeMe award 10 DAYS AGO and I honestly meant to share it right away and time got away from me! I'm so sorry Sharon!Sharon from Mana Moon Studios shared this wonderful award with me and I'm so very honored!Please check out her blog when you get a chance. She makes the most beautiful jewelry!

I think I put it off so I could think of SEVEN little known things about me as suggested. Sometimes my mind gets so foggy and I can't come up with a single item! haha

I will give it a go:

1) I believe in angels......wholeheartedly

2) I believe we are all here for a reason and who we come in contact with during our lives is no small coincidence. It's all in the plan.

3) I'm very proud of my 3 sons, they will never fully understand that.

4) I made a little deal with God years ago that I would gladly stay single the rest of my life if only he would bring the 'right' person into my sons' lives and they would never have to feel the pain of divorce.

5) I have always thought I would die young since both my mother and grandmother died at the age of 44. So far, I've outlived them by 6 years :) Perhaps I should have planned better for retirement after all! (My friends threw me a 'still alive at 45' party!)

6) I cry very easily...even commercials can do this to me!

7) I dream of winning the lottery and NOT because I could live an extravagant life, but because I could live doing the things I want to do and not worry about paying the bills. I'd have a cozy home with a beautiful view and a little guest house/cottage that I'd use as my studio and I'd travel and take classes from all the artists I admire. I would spend the rest of my days learning and making artsy fartsy things and make my children and grandchildren display them in their homes:) I'd have SO many dogs and they'd have room to run and play all day long! (I should have just listed 7 things I'd do if I won the lottery! ha)

Ok, now I'm supposed to pass this along to 7 more lucky bloggers. There are so many to choose from and I adore you ALL!! But in the past sometimes I cheat and give to everybody and I'm going to try and play nice and do as I'm supposed to. I will pick 7 but I hope you all know that you all shine brightly in my book!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I was doodling a little and came up with this little guy/gal. Can't quite decide what gender yet :)I think I'll name him/her 'patches'. I have several sketches ready but this is the first one painted up.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

My oldest son Derek and his family recently had their pictures taken by Real Life Photography here in Mayville. I just love these!Cailee-10 years

Nora-6 years

Cutler-2.5 years

The whole family!

This photo just makes me all warm inside! Derek & his wife, Jeni.Bless them all!

Also, it's my late mother's birthday today :) She would have been 72!Donna Jeanne died at the age of 44 from the side effects of a prescription drug for her rheumatoid arthritis. 6 months from diagnosis to leaving us. I was 22 and have missed her ever since.Happy Birthday Mom!!! Love and miss you.....always!Darla♥

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I took the day off today and Dale helped me set 7 more posts to complete the other side of my fencing project. Then he hauled some more dirt from my pile over to the side of the house! I'm excited to get these things done.

Harvest will be starting shortly and I'll be so busy at work. Please hang in there with me and I promise to get to blogging and painting any chance I can!!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Have you ever stumbled onto something so cute you couldn't stop dreaming about it? That's what happened with me and this chic little camper I found over at HGTV's Rate My Space.Have you ever checked out the many photos people share of their homes, gardens, etc? OMG, so inspirational and I can just get lost there for hours!

Anyway, this lovely camper belongs to Rosevinecottage and I just had to share. Her home is all shabby chic and romantic. If I lived in a mild climate, I'd definitely try and get one of these and turn it into a studio!

Don't you just want to snuggle up to this table on a sunny morning and sip coffee and catch up on blogs?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I got some of my fencing up!!!!!!!!!! I just love it! I'll be spraying it white when it's all complete. It will look nice with my yellow house with white trim. A friend helped drill the holes with his ice auger on Sunday! What a God send he was! I did the first hole with my post hole digger that I paid $1 for at an estate auction. I have NO upper body strength to speak of so needless to say, it was difficult. Then came Wade. God Bless Wade! He drilled the holes out in no time flat!

It's funny....he bought an ice auger to drill holes for ice fishing but when it's cold the silly thing won't run! So, he uses it to drill holes in the dirt for planting trees and now, digging post holes! Gotta love it!

Yesterday, Dale & I installed the panel sections.

It's nice to be back inside at work and I'm trying to catch up on your blogs. It was such a busy weekend that I didn't really have time to visit any of you and I apologize for that!

I want to share another photo with you. My high school friend, Lori, cut these out and put them in her yard a couple of years ago.You might have to click on the photo to see the solar lantern in the witch's hand. It's so cool! She has a beautiful, large farmstead so this fits in perfectly there. I'd love to do this myself, but we have too many pranksters wandering around on Halloween and I'm sure somebody would take her and abuse her. They'd probably mount her on top of the local Dairy Queen or something!I just know I'm not going to do all that work for someone to destroy it. I'll just enjoy looking at Lori's display.

Monday, September 7, 2009

I wondered what a snowman/snowgirl would look like with more human facial features so I painted a girl here with a pail of snowballs. Not quite sure what I think of her?

This is my little sunset witch and I was happy most of the time I was creating her until I put in the' cat hooked on crack'. I don't know what happened..........the more I tried to fix him he blended in with the fence and well~it just kind of went south :) OH well, I still love the bright colors on this one!